Header Image © Marshmallow Laser Feast: ‘In the Eyes of the Animal’

In the realm of festivals, a vibrant tapestry of art, music, and culture intertwines to create unforgettable experiences. However, the industry stands at a precipice, as our climate grows increasingly chaotic: storms, heatwaves, and flooding are becoming more frequent. The potential challenges, including impending ‘climate cancellations’, demand a swift awakening. Festivals can also become catalysts in building the climate resilience of people and territories. And yet, the concept of climate resilience remains unfamiliar territory for most festival organizers in Europe.

Recognizing the urgency to develop the mindsets, approaches, and tools necessary to navigate a climate-changing world, Festival Sustainability Lab included a Deep-Dive into Climate Resilience – a profound learning journey led by One Resilient Earth. The program’s extraordinary speakers shared their wisdom and experiences, delving into the complexities of the climate crisis, exploring its root causes and consequences, and engaging participants to shift their minds and hearts toward a just, diverse and climate-resilient future. In this article, we reflect on the transformative experience from the perspective of its participants, and share some of the thoughts and insights that emerged during and following the seven workshops of the Deep-Dive. 

© Barnaby Steel – artist, and creative director of London-based experiential studio Marshmallow Laser Feast. Steel was one of the guest artist in the fifth workshop, find more information in this interview from One Resilient Earth. 

Shedding New Light on Inner Change: Workshop Topics and Insights

The initial phase of the learning journey focused on establishing a foundation in climate science. This knowledge served as an essential prerequisite for learning about climate resilience and preparing for the short- and medium-term impacts of climate change.

“From the beginning all throughout the end, the course was curated at a very inviting pace and structure. The first session was an impactful one, conceptualizing disasters – and how some of these significant events had taken place already. It really made it clear how we think we’re planning for the future, while we’re actually behind: it’s already happening and we can’t put it off any longer.” – Sophia Bazile (Futures Thinking & Foresight Practitioner)

 Subsequently, the participants delved into exploring how climate change impacts our emotions and mental wellbeing, , which proved to be a profound and intense experience for many of them. Throughout the learning journey, Jo McAndrews, an emotional care practitioner associated with the Climate Psychology Alliance was on call to support the participants. 

“We might be overwhelmed by different points of view and being exposed to very harsh topics, and some of the conversations with the experts were really emotional, too – but I felt really supported by One Resilient Earth’s way to address the climate crisis. We were also seeing the positive sides.” – Camila López (Sustainability Consultant)

In the third workshop session, the focus shifted towards critically examining climate colonialism, challenging the participants to question existing paradigms and expand their perspectives. 

“Sometimes the program was overwhelming and unexpectedly intense. After hearing the poems on systemic violence and racism, I was blown away for two days. It was a valuable experience, but not something I would have anticipated initially.” – anonymous

“Of course I realized that information technology uses all kinds of minerals, but I maybe hadn’t really thought about it in the context of neo-colonialism. This session was really eye-opening, especially considering the actions of certain multinational companies: it’s not something in the past, there are things happening right now – and will maybe even keep happening in the future – that should be addressed more.” – Jyri, workshop participant

After completing these three demanding workshops that required an open-mind and a willingness to unlearn, a session dedicated to reframing perspectives and reshaping their outlook on the future was strategically placed. This session served as a l turning point in the learning journey, providing a structured framework for transitioning from a state of overwhelm to embracing new knowledge and possibilities. 

“I really enjoyed the sessions about Futures Literacy, and how we envision the future of festivals. Simply realizing how many scenarios can happen – and that, in the end, we won’t know what will happen, but we can work toward some of the scenarios.” – Camila

 By envisioning alternative festival futures, participants dared to dream beyond the constraints of the present. They tapped into their creativity to reimagine festivals as empowerment, education, and regeneration spaces. 

The fifth session explored the role of arts in fostering reconnection with oneself and nature, emphasizing the power of creative expression. Barney Steel (Marshmallow Laser Feast), Mikael B. Robillard (Kora), and Ben Kelly (Aboutface) gave presentations about their work and shared their experiences as artists, introducing their respective approaches to fostering a connection to oneself, others, and nature through art. 

“Seeing these images made me think of how reattuning our sense of perception to listening and hearing nature has such a powerful effect on remembering our own nature – and how disconnected we are from it and our perceptive capabilities. Hearing the artists share their work with such reverence and humble service to your co-conspirators of creation is very beautiful and invoked a lot of emotion.” – Ioana Todosia (Cross-Cultural and regenerative educator)

Lastly, the participants delved into the significance of collaborating with local communities, understanding the importance of identifying their communities, and charting a path forward with the insights gained throughout the learning journey. 

“It was powerful to see that we are from several different disciplines in the cultural and festival sectors, and all of us are really wanting to make a change. It was truly motivating and inspiring to get to know people from different backgrounds and positions towards culture and sustainability and festivals.” – Camila

“I am used to seeing a small niche of people working on these topics in Finland, the same faces – it’s the same people from the same festivals who are involved. It’s really interesting for me to see and hear other people from around the world to share their experiences. I really enjoyed the talks and shared motivation outside of my own bubble. It turns out that there is a huge global community out there”. – Jyri

The importance of rebuilding communities of support cannot be overstated, as it is through collaboration and collective action that long-term resilience can be achieved.

Empowering Festival Organizers to Embrace Climate Resilience

The Deep-Dive into Climate Resilience was not just a learning program; by providing spaces for open-sharing, deep-listening, and multiple conversations, this journey sought to bring together a network of individuals united in their dedication to creating a just, decolonized, climate-resilient, and compassionate society. These newfound understandings and early collaborations now need to be developed and integrated across different places and contexts. In a one-on-one coaching trajectory, One Resilient Earth will further equip three selected participants with the necessary tools and approaches to transform their festivals and creative endeavors across Europe. The selected participants are Christopher Johnson from Shambala Festival, Anna Johnson from Anjunabeats, and Vince Fueg from the Fluctuations Collective. In the months to come, we will share more about their insights – keep an eye on the One Resilient Earth and Green Events channels to stay in the loop.

Envisioning Catalysts for Transformation

The time for complacency is over. The festival industry has the opportunity to be the vanguard of change, weaving climate resilience into the threads of events organizing. A transformation is needed, confronting the oppressive systems of climate colonialism, envisioning alternative futures for festivals, and rekindling communities of support including both the human and the more-than-human world. Through personal transformation, collaboration, and the emergence of innovative approaches, festivals across Europe can transcend their role as entertainment platforms and become catalysts for a deep inner and outer transformation towards just, decolonized, climate-resilient, and compassionate societies.